Today is my grandmother’s 90th birthday. We hoped to be in Winnipeg to wish her well in person, but for a variety of reasons have to postpone our trip until the summer or fall. Just as well for me—I am sick as a dog with what seems like the gazillionth cold of the season. Jim called her tonight (via a relay service, as she is deaf), and I sent flowers that will arrive tomorrow morning. My mother is there for the week to spend it with her, and she took her and several friends out for dinner. My...

Working my way backwards here….this blog will eventually be mainly about homeschooling. Really! <VBG> After Christmas, I visited friends in Nebraska (more on that later) and then went on to Winnipeg. My aunt Wendy, one of my favourite people in the world, was turning 50. My other aunt, Bev, along with Uncle Dave (Bev’s hubby; Wendy’s brother) were throwing her a surprise 50th party with a fish theme (Wendy loves to fish). While Wendy later revealed that she had some inkling something was up, she had no idea I was coming. It was wonderful to see the look on...